🌱 COP16: A quick look at the 5 key agenda points at this years’ UN Biodiversity Conference
+ 4 ways you can get involved remotely
Happy Monday! Every Monday we suit up and get serious - digging into a climate topic, rounding up the past week’s Good(s) News and sharing updates from across FTF, so you’re never out of the loop.
Have you got carbon tunnel vision? The catchy phrase used for companies that put all their focus on carbon emissions, which can lead to missing impact opportunities in other areas…like nature protection and restoration. I can’t be the only one that feels like biodiversity management feels like a complex beast! So many of our readers have told us that it’s something sitting far too far down their to-do list for their liking, so, COP16 feels like the perfect excuse to bump it to the top.
So, this week, let’s pay attention! Over 22,000 delegates are converging in Cali, Colombia and we share below what we hope will be discussed.
> In Focus
A quick overview of what’s on the COP agenda this year, so you can get involved in the conversation
The UN Biodiversity Conference, also known as the Biodiversity COP, is a global gathering where countries, businesses, and environmental groups come together to protect nature and the planet's ecosystems (very similar to the conferences on climate change that often hit our headlines). Happening every two years, this event focuses on finding ways to stop biodiversity loss—like saving endangered species, protecting forests and oceans, and ensuring our natural resources are used sustainably. It's part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and sets important goals for making sure our world’s ecosystems stay healthy and resilient for the future.
Though the last Biodiversity COP was plagued by COVID-related delays, it marked the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by 196 nations. This framework includes 4 goals and 23 targets with an overarching mission of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030, or ‘30x30’.
What’s the main agenda for COP16?
Here is what we expect to see discussed over the next two weeks at the conference in Colombia:
How the nations have been implementing the framework since its adoption in 2022. In England, for example, progress has not been significant according to this report by the Wildlife and Countryside Link which shows that only 7.5% of marine areas are currently affectively protected and contributing to the 30x30 target. Currently less than half of the nations have submitted their strategy and action plan.
Agreement on a framework to monitor progress against the targets.
How to close the financing gaps. Target 19 of the framework calls for scaling up biodiversity finance from all sources to USD 200 billion per year by 2030. This report estimates that hitting the target will generate an overall higher output in revenue by 2050… so there is an economic argument for protecting nature (not just an argument for survival).
How countries will be compensated for the financial gain made by others using knowledge acquired from their natural resources. For example, take a case where I travelled to a South American country to study a disease resistant strain of crop, and I sequenced that crop’s genetics to take that information home digitally. That would then allow me to optimise my own crop using some sort of genius science. How can at least some of the money I make from that breakthrough be used and invested in the area where I gathered the information.
How we can ensure we are hitting those targets in a socially just and inclusive way. We hope the COP will result in a stronger governance system that includes commonly underrepresented groups, especially Indigenous peoples. The benefits of including (local) citizens generally in monitoring progress indicators have been explored and there is evidence to support it.
Not in Columbia? Here is how you can take part!
The Biodiversity COP doesn’t have the same draw as the Climate COP yet, and we don’t expect to see many consumer goods brands represented there. But we know you care, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now! So here is a few things you can do to get involved or raise awareness:
Watch the live stream! You can find the whole agenda here.
Spend some time working your way through the COP16 toolbox. It includes trivia, social media assets, games, fact sheets and a glossary…to name a few.
Follow the UN Biodiversity LinkedIn page and repost their updates!
Read the Business Participation Guide which gives you an idea of what businesses attending will need to know.
If you’re a brand either engaging with, or at, COP16 - we’d love to hear from you! How are you informing your colleagues? What are you hoping to see? What events (from afar or on the ground) are you participating in? Email laura@followingthefootprints.com to let us know.
> Follow up with…
> Last week in consumer goods x climate…
The Good(s) News
»Up and coming brands
🎯 GreenBlue Org, the company behind the disposal instruction labels How2Recycle® (H2R), has introduced a new label, How2Recycle Plus, which includes a QR code to provide real-time local recycling instructions. Launching in 2025, the label aims to reduce confusion and improve recycling rates by offering consumers location-specific guidance on recyclable materials across the U.S.
🎯 Heura Foods launched their pop-up "PHAMacy" in Paris last week, offering plant-based ham as a healthier alternative to processed pork. Visitors could enjoy vegan ham sandwiches while learning about the benefits of plant-based meats.
🎯 The Better Meat Co. received regulatory approval in Singapore to sell its Rhiza mycoprotein, marking its first international expansion. The protein-rich fungi ingredient can be used in meat alternatives and blended with animal meat, and has also received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the US Food and Drug Administration.
🎯 Bene Meat has introduced its first cultivated burger, which will be priced similarly to premium beef, marking a significant step toward making lab-grown meat more affordable. The start-up is also expanding its pet food venture and plans to scale up production, with a new facility set to open in 2025, while seeking regulatory approvals for its cultivated beef in various markets.
»Bigger organisations
⭐ Asda has invested in two new bio-liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations in Warrington and Dartford, expanding its UK network to 13 sites. This move is part of their larger sustainability strategy which includes the January 2025 launch of their supply chain finance program, in collaboration with HSBC UK, to provide financial incentives to suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices.
⭐ Decathlon Pulse has partnered with fashion tech company Unspun to expand the use of their 3D weaving technology, Vega, across Europe in an effort to reduce wasted during garment production. 3D weaving brings textile and garment making into one process and can use less energy and create less waste than the more mainstream method.
Want good news sooner? We post our top 5 stories in our LinkedIn newsletter every Friday! If your CPG brand has good news to share, let us know.👇
> In case you missed it
Want more? Here’s what’s happening across FTF at the moment…
We welcomed a new team member!!! James Roberts is an experienced copywriter and editor and we are sure he will be an amazing addition to the team.
Laura attended the Blue Earth Summit and took part in a workshop titled “Can businesses really use AI to accelerate positive impact?” run by the Better Business Network. If the topic interests you as well, she recommends checking out this substack article by Tom Greenwood who spoke at the workshop.
Henry was at the inaugural Sustainability in Drinks event in London. Over 50 drinks companies from wines, spirits, beer, packaging and trade bodies gathered to help shape the future of sustainability in the drinks industry.
Want more? Hang tight for ‘The Check-Out’ this Thursday for the latest brands in our basket. In the meantime, if you have any topics that you would like us to dig into, ping us an email on info@followingthefootprints.com to say hi!
Much love,
Team FTF